Official Verderer Edward Heron warns hay flytipping could lead to aggressive ponies

EQUESTRIANS are being urged not to dump unwanted hay on the Forest, with the warning it can lead to aggressive New Forest ponies and donkeys.

In an address to the Verderers’ Court, the Official Verderer Edward Heron revealed hay from previous years is often dumped on the Forest in spring and summer when it is deemed “unfit” for riding ponies.

He said: “A problem we often see at this time of the year is old hay being dumped on the Forest, often in large quantities.”

Labelling the behaviour “flytipping”, Mr Heron said: “It is usually the previous year’s hay that horse owners feel is no longer suitable for their riding horses and they think dumping it on the Forest is a good way of getting rid of it.”

However, Mr Heron said that often the discarded hay was “dusty or mouldy” and created problems with ponies and livestock competing for it, sometimes becoming aggressive as a result and leading to a risk of injury.

“Leaving anything on the Forest for livestock to eat constitutes flytipping,” warned Mr Heron. “It is also a breach of the verderers’ bylaws.

“We ask horse owners to dispose of unwanted hay responsibly.”